Joining up

Recruits' school is a rite of passage for most young Swiss men. They spend an entire summer or part of winter undergoing their basic training. The first day of their life in army starts outside the barracks. (Keystone)

The raw recruits find out quickly that life in the army is about following orders. (Keystone)

Uniform time: recruits measure up. (Keystone)

Recruits are told to treat their rifles better than their girlfriends. (Keystone)

Making faces: learning to march properly is still an important part of early training. (Keystone)